Measurements & inches lost

I am curious to find out how other coaches tally up your inches lost. We measure everything, including neck, arms, chest, waist, hips thighs, etc. But my question is, when calculating up all the inches lost, do you add arms x2 and thighs x2? As of now, we've only been adding 1 leg and 1 arm to the losses.

I only ever counted the inches from what was actually measured. We don't lose weight symmetrically anyway, and measurements are just a way to track the trends. You are also going to lose PLENTY of weight in areas that don't get measured - I lost in my FEET!

The most important measurment for me is the stomach, where I carry %90 of my fat. Although I was surprised that my arms did go down both times she measured. My face and neck are changing, I used to have a dimple in my chin, can't wait to see it again!!

The most important measurment for me is the stomach, where I carry %90 of my fat. Although I was surprised that my arms did go down both times she measured. My face and neck are changing, I used to have a dimple in my chin, can't wait to see it again!!

I fear my stomach will never be bikini worthy again. I am a mom of 3 and used to be 242 lbs. I am down to 191 but my stomach is so saggy...I have like a 3 inch roll that sags down below my hips Will that skin ever go away....is there hope for me? Anyone else in the same boat?

My coach would measure arms, waist, hips and thighs, and compare them against the previous measurements, then add up total losses.

Erica, I'm a mom of 2, and started at 256, currently down to 218.....on previous diets, I found I had a lot of roll left. For some reason, I'm not really finding it this time. Sure, there's a little bit extra there, but I'm not worried too much about it, and nothing like the last time I lost a bunch a weight. Going to start running soon (once the weather starts up....I'm a wuss!), and yoga, and between the two, hopefully that will help tone up anything to "flappy"

I lost in a balance way but I was certain it was all from my hips. IP Coach was surprised that I evenly lost,she did comment that most people don't lose symmetrically.

But, I have also lost in my face and neck which is not measured.

I have a lot of my weight in my stomach and need to lose there to be healthy.
In terms of flabby tummy rolls, good question on how your skin will retreat. I have had three c-sections and with the scar is just looks like a weird. This will be a mystery.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! i will stick with the 1 arm/1 leg measurements. I find it very motivating to have the measurements included, as sometimes the scale won't show much of a loss... but the inches lost always makes up for that.

I was also curious about the saggy skin. I don't have children but I've heard regardless, losing weight this quickly can lead to saggy skin (especially since I have lots to lose in my stomach).... very worried about that!!! Can anyone who has reached goal touch on whether they've experienced this?!?!

I fear my stomach will never be bikini worthy again. I am a mom of 3 and used to be 242 lbs. I am down to 191 but my stomach is so saggy...I have like a 3 inch roll that sags down below my hips Will that skin ever go away....is there hope for me? Anyone else in the same boat?

I have bounced around from 100-194 and I am curious about the same thing. In my 20's before my 3rd kid I lost about 60 lbs and pulled of a bikini but this time I have a saggy lower belly, I have seen goal pics of girls that toned their stomach up really well, check out chickiechicks goal post. She had kids and her stomach looks fantastic!

I measure every where too and both legs and arms count cause they r inches lost

I've heard with rapid weight lose that only surgery can get rid of excess skin...

So much depends on age, your skin's ability to bounce back, and just how stretched out it was before you lost the weight.

Toning exercises can firm up the muscles UNDER the skin, but won't do anything to correct the actual extra skin. For some, that may be all they actually need - to reshape and tighten the muscles under the skin. Your body will reabsorb/slough off some of that loose skin on its own, which takes about 8 months. Once you've hit about a year after you have reached your goal and maintained, you will know for sure whether your body could take care of that loose skin on its own, or whether some cosmetic surgery (if you want it) would be necessary.

I have a little bit of loose skin around my abdomen (thank you, my beautiful children), my breasts and my rear. I lost 70lbs total, so a significant amount of weight but not as much as many who have succeeded on IP. I am taking this year to get maintenance down, and see what my body does with those saggy areas. But at almost 40 years old, with a couple of kids, I am not expecting to have the body I had at 25, and I can deal with a little sagginess in trade off for being healthier and no longer obese

I agree with Scorbett on the skin. I've got weird skin on my arms and, of course, on my stomach and thighs. I've lost 70 and I'm near 60. But it's great not being overweight. I'm going to concentrate on maintaining this weight incorporating exercise into my routine. Then I'll see how the skin readjusts. I feel that it will.

Re: inches lost:

I always laugh a lot at the "inches lost." Of course I've lost lots of inches! My pants size went from 22 to 8-10! But when my coach measures select parts of my body and then proudly says, "you've lost 20 inches" I just smile. After all, if she measured 4 other parts of my body it would be higher; if she measured only 2 parts of my body it would be lower! So it's really just a funny game to me! I don't care, though! It makes her happy! I'm just happy about the way I look and my clothes size. The inches are silly unless I say I lost 10 inches around the waist, 4 inches in my arms, etc.